> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://theprospecttimes.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # 2026 Texas Rangers Top 30 Prospects: Late-Season Update - URL: https://theprospecttimes.com/2026-texas-rangers-top-30-prospects-late-season-update/ - Published: 2026-09-04T12:00:51.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-18T15:54:08.000Z - Author: The Prospect Times - Tags: Sebastian Walcott, Caden Scarborough, Seong-Jun Kim, AJ Russell, Josh Owens, Braulio Cavero, Winston Santos, Malcolm Moore, Elian Rosario, Yolfran Castillo, #toc, News Welcome to our updated 2026 Texas Rangers Top 30 Prospects list. This ranking reflects the input of eight of our contributors. The margin between players ranked in the 20's and those who just missed the list altogether was razor-thin. If you missed our original first top 30 list, you can find it below. [2026 Texas Rangers Top 30 Prospect RankingsFrom established names like Sebastian Walcott to the emergence of Caden Scarborough and Yolfran Castillo, we break down our 2026 Texas Rangers top 30 prospects.![](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/icon/image2-524eaa00-cf31-493e-bf38-798a61423097.png)The Prospect TimesMatthew Harris![](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/thumbnail/1000018653-a0a283a4-9173-41b5-b392-3d97a13c01fc.webp)](https://theprospecttimes.com/2026-texas-rangers-top-30-prospect-rankings/) ![John Taylor](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/08/1000042609.jpg) ## #30 John Taylor— 2B/3B **Age:** 25 | **Bats/Throws:** L/R | **Level:** Round Rock | **ETA:** 2027 | **Acquired:** Signed, 2025 (Atlantic League) | **Previous Rank:** not ranked **Background:** The Texas Rangers added a dynamic talent to their farm system when they purchased the contract of John Taylor, then 24, from the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs of the Atlantic League. A left-handed batter and right-handed thrower known for his YouTube fame as part of The Baseball Bat Bros alongside his older brother Will Taylor, Taylor's path to affiliated ball came after a standout 2025 season with the Blue Crabs. Playing primarily at second base and shortstop, he reached base in 50 of his 52 games, leading the Atlantic League with 40 walks and posting a .419 on-base percentage, good for 4th in the league, while slashing .288/.419/.513/.932 with 8 home runs and 13 stolen bases. That combination of bat-to-ball skill, patience, and speed earned him his shot with the Rangers. Now 25, Taylor has wasted no time proving he belongs. He opened this year with Frisco, where he slashed .322/.454/.518/.971 over 40 games with 6 home runs, 29 RBI, 32 walks, and 3 stolen bases before earning a promotion to Round Rock. In 67 games at Triple-A, he's hitting .259/.390/.420/.809 with 7 home runs, 51 RBI, 46 walks, and 63 strikeouts. **Tools:** Taylor brings a well-rounded skill set to the table — a mix of contact ability, patience, power, and speed. His plate discipline stands out as a carrying tool, evidenced by his walk totals at every stop this year, and there's enough juice in his bat to project for 15-20 home runs at the highest level. He's also shown defensive versatility, having logged time at second base, shortstop, and even the outfield as a professional, giving the Rangers multiple ways to get his bat into the lineup. **Outlook:** Taylor's rise from independent ball to a legitimate prospect in less than a calendar year speaks to both his talent and his readiness to compete against advanced pitching. With the on-base skills and pop to profile as an everyday piece and the versatility to play multiple positions, Taylor has quickly turned himself into one of the more intriguing stories in the system. If he continues to hit for average while walking at this clip, a big-league opportunity may not be far off. ![Izack Tiger](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/08/1000042617.jpg) ## #29 Izack Tiger — RHP **Age:** 25 | **Level:** Hub City | **ETA:** 2027 | **Acquired:** Drafted 2023 (Rd 7) | **Previous Rank:** #14 ▼ **Background:** Izack Tiger spent the entirety of his collegiate career at Butler Junior College in Kansas. He broke the school record for single-season strikeouts (121) in his final year of college and became the highest draft pick in school history when the Rangers took him in the 7th round in 2023\. He signed for $180,000 and got his first pro action in Down East in 2024\. He pitched 46 innings that 2024 season before tearing his UCL and getting Tommy John surgery that also cost him his entire 2025\. He made his return in 2026, but could only log 20.2 innings in Hub City before needing to be shut down for the rest of the season with an undisclosed injury. **Mix:** When Tiger has been healthy, the stuff is loud. His four-seam fastball sits 95 and has topped out at 100 despite only getting up to 98 in his first action since returning from surgery. His fastball has plenty of life at the top of the zone, but he ran into some home run issues in his 2026 season when missing over the middle with his fastball. He throws a slider that averages 86 and tops out at 89\. It’s a true gyro shape hovering around 0 on the y-axis, but does get decent glove-side break at -3”. His splitter was added to his mix by the Rangers once he got to pro ball. It averages 90 and tops out at 93\. He kills spin on it well, and it had been his most effective whiff pitch at 46% in his time in Hub City since his return. He introduced a sinker to his mix in 2026 and the shape is fairly average, but he has solid velocity on the pitch and in its minuscule usage put up solid contact rates. **Outlook:** Tiger is a very interesting prospect in that he’s already 25 with only 77.1 career professional innings, and will be 26 next season. If he is fully healthy going into next season and does stick as a starter, it’s likely he is a candidate to be a very quick mover if he performs well. The most likely outcome we see is the Rangers use Tiger out of the bullpen to help streamline his development as he reaches higher levels of competition, and potentially keep that starter potential in the back pocket. As shown with Jacob Latz, the Rangers have never been one to put their pitchers in a box in regard to their role in the team. If he does wind up in the bullpen, Tiger has a chance to be a very effective back-end bullpen arm. **Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 55 | Splitter: 55 | Sinker: 50 | Control: 50** ![Jay McQueen](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/08/1000042625.jpg) ## #28 Jay McQueen — OF **Age:** 19 | **Bats/Throws:** R/L | **Level:** Hickory | **ETA:** 2029 | **Acquired:** Drafted 2025 (Rd 20) | **Previous Rank:** NR **Background**: Jay McQueen, who turns 20 in October, is a toolsy outfielder the Rangers drafted in the 20th round of the 2025 draft out of Brandon High School. He's quickly become one of my favorite prospects in the system on the strength of a strong first full season. McQueen opened the year in the ACL, where he tore the league up, slashing .361/.465/.536/1.001 with 4 home runs, 24 RBI, 28 walks, 52 strikeouts, and 7 stolen bases, a performance that earned him ACL Post-Season All-Star honors. That production also earned him a promotion to Low-A Hickory, where he's continued to get on base at a high rate, hitting .293/.406/.293/.699 with 2 RBI, 10 walks, and 18 strikeouts across 20 games, adding 2 more stolen bases. **Tools**: McQueen's calling card so far is his ability to get on base — his on-base percentage has stood out at both stops this year, a product of a disciplined approach and a knack for working walks. He's been tough on pitching from both sides but has been especially impressive against left-handed pitching, hitting .395/.536/.651/1.187 with more walks (13) than strikeouts (10), though it's worth noting that split comes in a smaller sample size. He also offers speed on the bases, evidenced by his stolen base totals, and there's physical projection remaining as he continues to fill out, with the potential to grow into 15 home runs a season down the line. **Outlook**: For a 20th-round pick just weeks from his 20th birthday, McQueen's debut season has been eye-opening. The on-base skills give him a strong foundation, and if the power continues to develop as he matures physically, he has a chance to profile as a well-rounded outfielder with real offensive upside. It'll be worth watching how he handles more advanced pitching as he climbs the ladder. ![Paxton Kling](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/08/1000042644.jpg) ## #27 Paxton Kling — OF **Age:** 23 | **Bats/Throws:** R/R | **Level:** Frisco | **ETA:** 2028 | **Acquired:** Drafted 2025 (Rd 7) | **Previous Rank:** #25 ▼ **Background:** Paxton Kling, 23, has been on our radar since the Rangers drafted him in the 7th round of the 2025 draft. After two inconsistent seasons at LSU, Kling transferred to Penn State for his junior year and saw a massive jump in production, slashing .358/.470/.632 with 13 home runs and 15 steals. That momentum followed him into his pro debut, as he hit the ground running at Single-A Hickory with a staggering .368/.395/.605/1.001 line in 10 games. While his numbers leveled off during an 11-game stint at High-A Hub City, where he hit .244/.320/.311/.631, the small sample size shouldn't diminish the excitement. Between the two stops in 2025, he slashed .301/.355/.446/.801 with 1 home run (hit at Hickory), 7 RBI, 7 walks, and 19 strikeouts. This season, back with Hub City, Kling has slashed .229/.366/.357/.723 across a full workload, with 7 home runs, 27 RBI, 48 walks, 92 strikeouts, and 32 stolen bases. **Tools:** Kling is a plus runner with above-average arm strength, making him a natural fit in center field, where he played the majority of his games in 2025\. His 6'2", 210-pound frame generates easy raw power, and he showed an improved ability to drive the ball to all fields during his breakout junior season at Penn State. Defensively, he's a reliable glove, having committed just two errors across his first full pro season, and his arm strength gives him the versatility to handle right field if the Rangers eventually need him to move to a corner. **Outlook:** Kling just earned a promotion to Double-A Frisco. His speed-power combination, paired with a strong walk rate, gives him a well-rounded offensive profile, even as the strikeout rate is something to monitor as he continues to climb the ladder. With his defensive versatility and physical tools, Kling projects as a potential everyday outfielder if the hit tool continues to develop. ![Braulio Cavero](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/08/1000042649.jpg) ## #26 Braulio Cavero — OF **Age:** 20 | **Bats/Throws:** L/R | **Level:** ACL Rangers | **ETA:** 2029 | **Acquired:** Signed 2025 (Int'l FA) | **Previous Rank:** NR **Background:** Braulio Cavero, a 20-year-old outfielder, signed with the Texas Rangers as a free agent on December 1, 2025, and wasted no time turning heads. In 20 games with the DSL Rangers Red, he slashed .413/.529/.680/1.209 with 4 home runs, 27 RBI, 20 walks against just 7 strikeouts, and 7 stolen bases. That performance earned him a promotion stateside to the ACL Rangers, where in a smaller 7-game sample he was even better, hitting .480/.552/.880/1.432 with 2 home runs, 8 RBI, 4 walks, and 4 strikeouts. **Tools:** Cavero projects for real power upside, with potential for 15-20 home runs a season and maybe even a bit more as he continues to develop. He's shown defensive versatility early in his career, seeing time in left field, right field, and even brief stints at first base, second base, and third base, though the expectation is that he sticks in the outfield long-term. **Outlook:** Cavero played 27 total games in his pro debut and may see some winter ball action before the offseason wraps. He's expected to open next season at Hickory, with a chance for a quick promotion to Hub City if he can sustain the average and elite on-base numbers he's flashed so far. It's an incredibly small sample, but the combination of power, contact skills, and plate discipline make him a name worth watching closely. ![Yeison Morrobel](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/08/1000042653.jpg) ## #25 Yeison Morrobel — OF **Age:** 22 | **Bats/Throws:** L/L | **Level:** Frisco | **ETA:** 2027 | **Acquired:** Signed 2021 (Int'l FA) | **Previous Rank:** NR **Background:** Yeison Morrobel signed with the Texas Rangers as a free agent on January 15, 2021, and has broken out in a big way this season. After a rough 2025 in which he slashed .172/.251/.277/.528 with 6 home runs, 25 RBI, and 26 walks across one game in the ACL and 77 games with Hub City, Morrobel has turned things around in 2026\. He's posted a career-high 17 home runs on the season, well above his previous high of 9 back in 2024\. He started the year at Hub City, where he slashed .297/.370/.497/.867 with 14 home runs, 59 RBI, 35 walks, and 57 strikeouts across 75 games, and even hit for the cycle during his time there. That performance earned him a promotion to Frisco, where his home run pace has cooled to 3 so far, but he's continued to hit for average, slashing .331/.375/.504/.879 with 3 home runs, 20 RBI, 8 walks, and 28 strikeouts through 34 games. **Tools:** Morrobel has shown he's capable of 20-homer power this season, a major step forward from what he'd previously shown in his career. The average and on-base skills have followed him up to Double-A, though his walk rate has dipped since the promotion to Frisco, something worth keeping an eye on as he continues to face more advanced pitching. **Outlook:** Morrobel's 2026 breakout, capped by a cycle at Hub City and a strong transition to Frisco, marks real progress after a difficult 2025\. If he can rediscover the walk rate that fueled his production earlier in the year while sustaining the power he's shown, he has a chance to establish himself as one of the more interesting bats to track in the upper levels of the system. ![Mason McConnaughey](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/08/1000042656.jpg) ## #24 Mason McConnaughey — RHP **Age:** 22 | **Level:** Hickory | **ETA:** 2029 | **Acquired:** Drafted 2025 (Rd 4) | **Previous Rank:** NR **Background:** Mason McConnaughey showed really impressive potential in his time at Nebraska when it came to his fastball command and strong secondaries before a Tommy John surgery ended his 2025 season. Still, the Rangers liked what they saw out of McConnaughey and selected him in the 4th round of the 2025 draft and signed him to an under-slot $495k. He returned from his injury in late-June of this year and made his affiliate ball debut in mid-July. He’s pitched 14 innings at the time of writing, and while he hasn’t been stacking up strikeouts, he’s been putting up zeroes to the tune of 3 runs in his last 10 innings. **Mix:** McConnaughey sports a 3-pitch-mix of a fastball, slider, and changeup. His fastball sits 92 and has topped out at 94 this season. It gets good ride at 17” of vertical break, and is able to attack both the top and bottom of the zone to pick up whiffs. His slider is his best secondary pitch, sitting 83 and topping out at 84\. It’s a gyro shape that he does struggle to land for strikes consistently, but shows really strong flashes by missing bats at a rate of 60% so far in his season. His third pitch is his changeup that has probably the better potential of the two secondary offerings, but it’s not quite there yet. It doesn’t get a ton of vertical break separation off his fastball at 10” of vertical break, but he gets really good late fade on his changeup averaging 18” of arm-side run and has gotten up to 22” this year. It’s another pitch he has had some trouble landing in the strike zone, but I chalk both slider and changeup command to this being his first game action in over a year. **Outlook:** McConnaughey has a really clean and repeatable delivery that combined with his command lends itself to being a capable starting pitcher down the line. He’s peaked at 95 on his fastball in the past, but if he can raise his fastball velocity at all then it will bode well for his future. It’ll also be interesting to see how McConnaughey’s 2027 goes, because if he can regain better command of his secondary pitches and maybe even add a sinker and cutter down the line, he figures to be a very solid bottom of the rotation starting pitcher. ![Arturo Disla](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/08/1000042665.jpg) ## #23 Arturo Disla — 1B/DH **Age:** 25 | **Bats/Throws:** R/R | **Level:** Frisco | **ETA:** 2027 | **Acquired:** Signed 2023 (MiLB FA) | **Previous Rank:** NR **Background:** Arturo Disla is one of the more intriguing prospects in the Texas Rangers farm system, and I've compared him to a right-handed hitting Prince Fielder. The La Vega, Dominican Republic native signed with the Rangers as a free agent on July 24, 2023, out of Wayland Baptist. Disla has put together a career-high 20 home runs this season, earning Player of the Month honors twice, in April and July. He started the year at Hub City, hitting .314/.434/.559/.993 with 6 home runs, 21 RBI, 21 walks, and 30 strikeouts, before earning a promotion to Frisco, a call-up I'd been waiting for to see him play in person and get my own photos. At Frisco, he's hit .286/.361/.495/.856 with 14 home runs, 67 RBI, and 37 walks, adding 2 stolen bases at each stop this season. Combined on the year, Disla is slashing .293/.380/.511/.891 with 20 home runs and 88 RBI. **Tools:** Disla's carrying tool is his power, which has translated at every stop this season, and he pairs it with a strong on-base ability. He plays first base and DH, and while 2025 was a down season for him, he's bounced back in a big way in 2026, hitting at every level he's played. **Outlook:** Disla should see time in Round Rock next season and could possibly see a big-league debut, but continuing to hit will be the key, something he's done at every level so far. With his power and on-base skills, he's a name to watch as he climbs closer to the majors. ![Noah Franklin](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/08/1000042672.jpg) ## #22 Noah Franklin — C **Age:** 19 | **Bats/Throws:** R/R | **Level:** Hickory | **ETA:** 2030 | **Acquired:** Drafted 2025 (Rd 17) | **Previous Rank:** NR **Background**: Noah Franklin was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 17th round of the 2025 draft, and this season marked his first taste of professional action. The catcher put together a really impressive showing in the ACL, hitting .363/.426/.627/1.053 with 5 home runs, 24 RBI, 8 walks, 25 strikeouts, and 3 stolen bases in 31 games. That performance earned him a promotion to Hickory, where he's hit .227/.393/.318/.711 with 1 home run, 4 RBI, 15 walks, 22 strikeouts, and 2 stolen bases in 19 games. **Tools**: What sticks out most with Franklin is the jump in his walk rate following the promotion to Hickory, a sign of improving plate discipline even as the average dipped against tougher pitching. Behind the plate, he's thrown out 21 would-be base stealers for a 26% caught-stealing rate between the ACL and Low-A Hickory, and he's shown pop early in his debut season as a catcher whose ability to get on base adds real value to the profile. In the ACL, in games where data is available he had max exit velo of 109.8 mph. **Outlook**: Franklin could see some action in the Arizona Fall League, though rosters haven't been announced yet, so that's speculative at this point. I'd expect him to open next season back at Hickory. For a 17th-round pick in his first professional season, Franklin's performance, especially the improving walk rate and defensive impact, gives the Rangers reason for optimism about his long-term development behind the plate. ![Winston Santos](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/08/1000042678.jpg) ## #21 Winston Santos — RHP **Age:** 24 | **Level:** Round Rock | **ETA:** 2026 (MLB debut) | **Acquired:** Signed 2019 (Int'l FA) | **Previous Rank:** #5 ▼ **Background:** Winston Santos was a 2019 international draft signing out of the Dominican Republic. Signing for just $10,000, Santos had to wait until 2021 to make his system debut due to the pandemic. Santos ran into his first hiccup in high-A ball in 2023 where he put up a 6.29 ERA. He made some mechanical adjustments heading into 2024, and it paid off with a breakout season that saw him earn a promotion to AA Frisco, pitch in the Futures Game, and earn a spot on the Rangers 40-man roster. Unfortunately most of his 2025 was taken away due to a stress reaction in his back. Santos ended up pitching 17.1 innings before the end of his 2025 regular season, including an end-of-season start in AAA Round Rock. Santos also pitched 18.1 innings in the AFL this year where he worked on adding two more pitches. **Mix:** Winston Santos’s mix is largely carried by his fastball. He averages 97 on it and has gotten up to 100 this season. The pitch averages 16” vertical break and 10” arm-side run. He has an average approach angle with the pitch of -4.1 degrees, which helps it play really well at the top of the strike zone when he can land it there. Santos backs up his fastball with a gyro slider and a changeup. His slider has a somewhat inconsistent shape at times but averages 3” vertical break and -3” of glove-side sweep while averaging 85\. His changeup consistency can also vary but averages 7” vertical break and 13” arm-side run at 89\. His changeup is the most inconsistent of the three, but does flash some solid late fade on occasion. Santos added two new pitches in his time in the AFL in 2025, a sinker and a sweeper. The sinker in 2026 has averaged 10” vertical break and 14” arm-side run, and averaged 94 topping out at 98\. The sweeper was a bit slower in the 77-80 range and averaged 1.3” vertical break and -11” of glove-side sweep. It didn’t get the results the Rangers wanted so it was scrapped going into the 2026 season, but the sinker has remained for Santos. **Outlook:** Santos’s momentum from 2024 hit a speed bump in 2025, but he did good work at the end of the year. His 2026 has been bumpy to say the least. He’s walking more hitters and allowing the most HR/9 of his career. He’s shown those flashes at times though in 2026, which keeps up the hope he can regain that consistency he showed in 2024\. He has potential to be a starter at the back of the rotation, but if his additions to his pitch mix don’t stick, then he can be very capable coming out of the bullpen. **Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Sinker: 50 | Control: 50** ![Daniel Rodriguez](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/08/1000042683.jpg) ## #20 Daniel Rodriguez — SS **Age:** 18 | **Bats/Throws:** R/R | **Level:** ACL Rangers | **ETA:** 2030 | **Acquired:** Signed 2025 (Int'l FA) | **Previous Rank:** NR **Background:** Daniel Rodriguez, a Barquisimeto, Venezuela native, signed with the Texas Rangers as a free agent on January 15, 2025, for $247,500 as one of the more polished players in the Rangers' 2025 international class. In his 2025 debut, he played 43 games in the DSL, hitting .228/.429/.289/.718 with no home runs, 19 RBI, 50 walks, 41 strikeouts, and 12 stolen bases. This season, he saw his first stateside action with the ACL Rangers, playing 46 games. Interestingly, he saw the same number of at-bats (149) and struck out the same number of times (41) as his DSL season, but his walk rate dropped while his average rose and he showed some newfound power, hitting .302/.393/.490/.883 with 4 home runs, 35 RBI, 18 walks, 41 strikeouts, and 13 stolen bases. **Tools:** Rodriguez's improving exit velocities, including a max of 103.7 mph in ACL games with available data, portend future 15-homer power, though he'll need to learn to turn and lift more pitches to fully get there. He's already shown a strong on-base foundation across his first two pro seasons, and his stolen base totals point to real speed as an offensive weapon as well. **Outlook:** Rodriguez should see time in Hickory next season, and it'll be worth watching whether his strong on-base numbers hold up as he continues to face more advanced pitching. Between the patience, speed, and emerging power, he's a well-rounded young shortstop with real offensive upside as he continues to develop. ![Aidan Curry](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/08/1000042684.jpg) ## #19 Aidan Curry — RHP **Age:** 24 | **Level:** Frisco (Triple-A debut) | **ETA:** 2027 | **Acquired:** Signed 2020 (Int'l FA) | **Previous Rank:** NR **Background:** Aidan Curry was signed as a non-drafted free agent after the 2020 MLB Draft for the maximum allowed $20,000\. He spent the 2021 and 2022 seasons in Arizona in the Complex League there before beginning his 2023 season in then Low-A Down East. He won Carolina League Pitcher of the Year in 2023 after putting up a 2.30 ERA across 82 innings while striking out 30.8% of batters. It was then a couple back-to-back difficult years for Curry as he struggled to adjust to the level of competition in High-A. He saw reduced strikeout rates and an increase in walks in 2024, and in 2025 was able to get some of the strikeout stuff back but saw a dramatic increase in walks to 15.4%. Coming into 2026, it was clear this was the make or break year for Curry. The stuff profile is quite impressive, but he really needed to cut down the walks if he was going to continue as a starter in the organization. He showed up to spring having bulked up a bit more and took the momentum he built that spring into his 2026 season. He has done really well to both cut down on the walk rates he’d shown the past couple years while also maintaining his strikeout rates. Curry’s made his way up to AAA Round Rock with his strong 2026, and has reignited conversations about his potential in the organization. **Mix:** From top to bottom, Curry boasts probably the best mix in the entire farm from a pure stuff perspective. He came into the season with a five-pitch-mix, and in the last month has added a new short slider into his arsenal. His fastball leads the way though, it averages 94 and has topped at 97 with strong carry at 18” of vertical break and 10” of arm-side run. He throws it about 40% of the time and the key to the turnaround in his command has been his ability to land his fastball for strikes. He has a Strike% of 68% on his fastball this season, and when he’s on with his fastball it perfectly sets up his litany of secondary options. Curry’s main secondary pitch is his cutter which averages 89 and tops out at 93\. He throws it to both righties and lefties, and has a 32% whiff% on the season. He can get in trouble when he leaves it in the middle of the zone to righties, but more often than not, it’s been a reliable weapon for Curry this season. Often paired with his cutter is his best whiff pitch for righties, the sweeper. Curry’s sweeper averages 81 and tops out at 86 and has gotten up to 22” of glove-side sweep this season. It misses bats at a rate of 35%, and he throws it in the zone at an impressive clip which has led to a 25% zone-whiff%. Next in Curry’s breaking ball collection is his curveball that sits at 76 and tops out at 78\. It’s more of a knuckle-curve that he gets great depth on at -16” of vertical break, and though he throws it more to lefties he does have confidence to land it to righties as well. It leads the way for Curry in whiffs at 43%, and one of his best pitches when it comes to limiting hard contact. Curry’s newest pitch is a shorter slider that sits at about 84 and tops out at 88\. It’s gotten kind of mixed results so far, but has really solid depth at -4” of vertical break that almost resembles a death ball. As he gets more confident with it, it should serve as a better bridge pitch between his cutter and curveball to lefties than his sweeper was. To round out his mix, Curry throws a kick-changeup that I think is his best pitch. He throws it around 86, and he does really well to kill spin on the pitch. He pretty much throws it exclusively to lefties, but it has a 44% whiff% this season across all levels, and has allowed a wOBA of 0.087 this season. **Outlook:** Aidan Curry is far from a finished product, but in his now age 24 season he’s done incredibly well to reignite his stock that had been tumbling for the two seasons prior. There will be a decision to be made this coming offseason as Curry will be Rule 5 eligible, but I think he’s shown enough of a sample size this season to show his improvements are not temporary. He’s got the stuff to be a frontline starter, and the walks are what will keep him from that if he doesn’t continue to improve in that regard. However, both the stuff profile and physical frame are enough to make me a believer in Curry going forward. **Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Cutter: 55 | Slider: 50 | Sweeper: 60 | Curveball: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 45** ![Hector Osorio](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/08/1000042685.jpg) ## #18 Hector Osorio — CF **Age:** 21 | **Bats/Throws:** L/L | **Level:** Hub City | **ETA:** 2028 | **Acquired:** Signed 2022 (Int'l FA) | **Previous Rank:** NR **Background:** Hector Osorio signed with the Rangers for $47,500 out of Venezuela in 2022, and the 21-year-old outfielder has broken out in a big way this season. He's clearly hitting the ball harder, posting a career-high 21 home runs, well above his previous high of 4 back in 2025\. Osorio started the year by demolishing Carolina League pitching at Hickory, hitting .309/.437/.581/1.018 with 13 home runs, 45 RBI, 37 walks, and 27 strikeouts in 53 games, a stretch that included a [Carolina League Player of the Month award](https://theprospecttimes.com/texas-rangers-prospects-rafe-perich-hector-osorio-named-players-of-the-month/) in May, when he hit .333/.449/.598 over 24 games with 6 home runs, 5 doubles, 20 RBI, and 15 walks. He promoted to Hub City, where he's hit .275/.370/.489/.859 with 8 home runs, 22 RBI, 17 walks, and 23 strikeouts before being placed on the 7-day injured list. **Tools:** What stands out most with Osorio is the power surge and that he has more walks than strikeouts on the season overall, a strong indicator of plate discipline to go along with his newfound power surge. The jump from a 4-homer season to a 21-homer breakout points to real physical development and improved contact quality. **Outlook:** It's unclear at this time what Osorio's injury is, but there's a chance he could see some time in the Arizona Fall League once healthy. He may open next season back at Hub City with a quick promotion to Frisco if he continues performing at this level. The power breakout paired with his continued patience at the plate makes him one of the more exciting developments in the system this year. ![Jack Wheeler](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/08/1000042688.jpg) ## #17 Jack Wheeler — 3B **Age:** 20 | **Bats/Throws:** R/R | **Level:** ACL Rangers | **ETA:** 2029 | **Acquired:** Drafted 2025 (Rd 6) | **Previous Rank:** NR **Background:** Jack Wheeler was selected in the 6th round of the 2025 draft of the state of Illinois as a high school infielder. The third baseman made his pro debut this year playing in the Arizona Complex League and had a solid showing. In the ACL he slashed .302/.356/.531/.887 OPS with 6 homers, 37 RBI’s, 13 doubles, and 3 triples. **Tools:** With solid speed, solid actions, and a strong arm, Wheeler has the tools to be a solid defender as he develops. The offensive upside is what caused the Rangers to jump on him in the 6th round. The Illinois native hits the ball very hard. When I was in Arizona the crack of the bat was definitely louder coming off of his bat. In addition, he could possibly add some strength. I believe there will have to be an improved approach at the plate so he can reach his full potential and be a good hitter. The tools to be an everyday player at the next level are there in my opinion. **Outlook:** The tools to be an everyday player at the next level are there in my opinion. With a refined approach, the current raw power, and the possibility of unlocking more I believe Jack Wheeler has 20-25 homer potential. Currently, I would grade his power at 55 (out of 80). As his game improves I can see him being a fun prospect to keep an eye on. ![Connor Comeau](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/08/1000042694.jpg) ## #16 Connor Comeau — SS/3B **Age:** 18 | **Bats/Throws:** L/R | **Level:** ACL Rangers | **ETA:** 2030 | **Acquired:** Drafted 2026 (Rd 2) | **Previous Rank:** NR **Background**: Connor Comeau, the 54th overall selection in this year’s MLB draft, has officially joined the Texas Rangers farm system. The shortstop signed for $1,805,000, choosing to pursue a professional career over his commitment to Texas A&M. Hailing from L.C. Anderson High School in Austin, Texas, the 6-foot-4 Comeau entered the draft as one of the most highly regarded high school hitters in the country. During his senior season, he posted a .512 batting average with 28 RBIs and 28 extra-base hits. **Tools**: Scouts have praised the 18-year-old for his advanced plate discipline and effortless swing. While he currently excels as a line-drive hitter who utilizes the opposite field, experts believe his power numbers will surge as he matures. Comeau, who turned 18 on Aug. 11, currently weighs 180 pounds but has expressed a goal to reach 200 to 205 pounds to become a more prominent power threat. Defensively, many scouts project a move to third base as he fills out his frame. His arm strength is already elite for his age, having been clocked at 92 mph across the diamond. **Outlook**: Comeau is currently competing in the Arizona Complex League and is expected to be a candidate for the fall developmental programs. Certainly one thing to look for next spring is how he goes into size and strength wise, that will set the tone for his season. Comeau’s unique combination of size and hitting mechanics gives him a high ceiling as he begins his journey through the minor leagues. As I’m sure the Rangers would love for him to develope such as a Willits or Mcgonigle, you have plenty of time with a young Shortstop who’s been eighteen for all of three weeks. ![David Davalillo](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/08/1000042814.jpg) ## #15 David Davalillo — RHP **Age:** 25 | **Level:** Round Rock | **ETA:** 2026 | **Acquired:** Signed 2022 (Int'l FA) | **Previous Rank:** #4 ▼ **Background:** David Davalillo was signed out of Venezuela by the New York Mets in 2021 for $30,000\. That deal ended up being voided 2 months later, and the Rangers signed Davalillo for $10,000 in June of 2022\. He spent 2 years playing in Rookie ball, aside from one start at Low-A Down East at the end of the 2023 season. Davalillo really burst onto the scene in 2024 when he put up a 1.88 ERA in 110.1 innings across Down East and High-A Hickory, striking out 113 and walking only 32\. He carried that momentum into the 2025 season, throwing 107 innings across High-A Hub City and AA Frisco. Davalillo struck out 126 and walked 28 to the tune of a 2.44 ERA, 2.81 FIP, and a 0.93 WHIP. He held opponents to a staggering .182 batting average, along with a 29.6% K% and a 6.6% BB%. **Mix:** Davalillo currently sports a six-pitch-mix. Prior to his promotion to Frisco, he threw a fastball, sinker, curveball, slider, and splitter. However, when he arrived in Frisco, he introduced a cutter into his repertoire as well which showed some promising early results to the tune of a 50% whiff rate during his first start. He throws both of his fastballs in the low to mid 90's, and they'll touch 96\. Neither are particularly elite shapes, but he throws them for strikes consistently and he doesn’t overuse them. His cutter is his newest pitch and likely the best of his 3 fastballs. It’s a true cutter with 6” of vertical break and -1” of glove-side break. It’s become his most used pitch in 2026, but unfortunately has been rather poor in terms of batted ball results. That could be a location issue as well as a usage issue, but it’s not a long term concern for a pitcher like Davalillo. Davalillo’s splitter is arguably the best of his 3 secondary offerings. It’s more of a forkball shape in that he averages about 1100 RPM on the pitch. He had a whiff% of over 50% in AA last season, and this season has a whiff% of 32% in AAA Round Rock. It’s his best pitch from a batted ball standpoint with hitters rarely able to square it up. It averages 82, but has touched 86\. Though Davalillo’s calling cards will likely always be his 2 big breakers. He throws a sweeper that averages 81, touching 84, and has gotten up to 24” of glove-side sweep but averages closer to 17”. His curveball sits 77 and averages -13” of vertical break and 13” of glove-side break. He has great feel for spinning the ball and has gotten up to 3200 RPM on both breakers this season. Davalillo is a very cerebral pitcher, and is renowned by many as one of the most pure pitchers in the Rangers system. He has a deep mix, and sequences and commands them very well. He can sometimes get a little too carried away with trying to find the perfect pitch that he can get himself into too many extended counts, but when Davalillo is in his groove you’ll find very few pitchers that can go toe to toe with him. **Outlook:** Most scouts seem to feel like Davalillo lacks a true plus pitch or that his weirdly athletic delivery limits his potential as a starter, but it’s undeniable that Davalillo has traits you just can’t teach and one of the deepest mixes in the Rangers farm. He’s seen some struggles in AAA as he’s spent time trying to get used to the different ball, but he’s turned in some very promising performances as of late and he still figures to be a candidate for a rotation slot in the near future. **Scouting Grades: Fastball: 45 | Sinker: 50 | Cutter: 50 | Splitter: 50 | Sweeper: 60 | Curveball: 55 | Control: 55** ![Malcolm Moore](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/08/1000042829.jpg) ## #14 Malcolm Moore — C **Age:** 23 | **Bats/Throws:** L/R | **Level:** Frisco | **ETA:** 2028 | **Acquired:** Drafted 2024 (Rd 1) | **Previous Rank:** #16 ▲ **Background:** Malcolm Moore has had the type of season Rangers fans were hoping to see last year. The 30th overall pick in the 2024 draft, Moore remains the top-ranked catcher in the Rangers system and arrived with a massive offensive reputation out of Stanford University, where he posted a .967 OPS with 16 home runs in his final season. He's improved offensively from a power standpoint this year, hitting a career-high 17 home runs on the season. Moore started the year at Hub City, hitting .300/.387/.542/.929 with 10 home runs, 37 RBI, 20 walks, and 42 strikeouts in 48 games. He was promoted to Frisco, where he's hitting .219/.307/.413/.720 with 7 home runs, 19 RBI, 13 walks, and 45 strikeouts across 42 games. **Tools:** Moore's power has taken a real step forward this season, and he's continued to develop behind the plate defensively as well. He threw out 18% of base stealers in 2025, and that number has jumped to 33% so far this season, a significant improvement in his ability to control the running game. **Outlook:** The walk rate is something worth watching following the promotion to Frisco, but the power growth and defensive improvement behind the plate paint an encouraging overall picture. Things are looking better for the Rangers' catcher of the future, and Moore's continued development will be worth tracking as he works to solidify himself as a franchise cornerstone at the position. ![Rafe Perich](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/08/1000042835.jpg) ## #13 Rafe Perich — 3B **Age:** 24 | **Bats/Throws:** S/R | **Level:** Frisco | **ETA:** 2027 | **Acquired:** Drafted 2024 (Rd 7) | **Previous Rank:** NR **Background:** Rafe Perich has had a fantastic season, currently leading the Texas Rangers farm system in home runs with 26 between Hub City and Frisco. He started the year at Hub City, slashing .303/.394/.606/1.000 with 11 home runs, 34 RBI, 20 walks, 34 strikeouts, and 2 stolen bases in 38 games. That performance earned him a promotion to Double-A, where he hasn't seen a drop in production, hitting .312/.393/.586/.979 with 15 home runs, 49 RBI, 34 walks, 65 strikeouts, and 6 stolen bases. **Tools:** Perich is obviously hitting the ball harder this season, and the power has translated at both stops. As a switch hitter, he's done considerably more damage from the left side, hitting .342/.429/.671/1.099 with 24 of his 26 home runs coming from that side of the plate as of this writing. Defensively, having watched him in person at the hot corner, there have been some good plays, and while there's some concern in the industry about his glove, that's not a major worry of mine. He's posted a .976 fielding percentage at third base in Double-A. **Outlook:** Perich should see Triple-A next season and could even see his major league debut. With the power breakout he's shown across two levels this year, he's positioned himself as one of the more exciting bats to watch as he continues climbing toward the big leagues. ![Elian Rosario](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/08/1000042837.jpg) ## #12 Elian Rosario — 3B **Age:** 17 | **Bats/Throws:** R/R | **Level:** DSL Rangers Blue | **ETA:** 2031 | **Acquired:** Signed 2026 (Int'l FA) | **Previous Rank:** #15 ▲ **Background:** Elian Rosario is the centerpiece of the Rangers' 2026 international signing class, joining the organization with a $2.5 million bonus, the most significant investment the club has made in a single international prospect since they signed Sebastian Walcott in 2023\. At just 17 years old, the Dominican Republic native already stands out for his physical maturity, possessing a 195-pound frame built for the long haul. He arrives with a reputation for being a fierce competitor who has logged significant game experience at a young age, displaying a level of poise and maturity that often eludes players in his age bracket. He'll turn 18 in October. With the DSL Rangers Red, he slashed .266/.402/.448/.850 with 6 home runs, 46 RBI, 26 walks, and 27 strikeouts in 38 games. He was later assigned to the DSL Rangers Blue, where he hit .188/.316/.406/.722 with 2 home runs, 8 RBI, and 3 walks in 8 games. **Tools:** The hallmark of Rosario's game is his natural strength. He produces high exit velocities, routinely clearing 100 mph, with a swing designed to drive the ball deep into the gaps and over the fence. While his power is his most obvious attribute, he pairs it with an increasingly patient approach, striking out only 3 more times than he walked across his two stops, showing a willingness to work counts and punish mistakes rather than chasing out of the zone. Defensively, Rosario's background as a shortstop gives him the coordination and footwork to handle the hot corner, where his above-average arm strength is a clear asset. **Outlook:** For a 17-year-old carrying that kind of bonus and expectation, Rosario has shown the physical tools and approach to match the hype early in his career. If he can maintain his current level of discipline while his raw power continues to manifest, he could quickly become one of the more dominant hitters in the lower levels of the farm system. ![Yolfran Castillo](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/08/1000042839.jpg) ## #11 Yolfran Castillo — SS **Age:** 19 | **Bats/Throws:** R/R | **Level:** Hickory | **ETA:** 2029 | **Acquired:** Signed 2024 (Int'l FA) | **Previous Rank:** #8 ▼ **Background:** Yolfran Castillo, 19, has had what I'd call a very strong season. The Rangers signed him as a free agent on January 15, 2024\. By the time Castillo blossomed physically as a Venezuelan amateur, teams had committed most of their bonus pool money, allowing the Rangers to sign him for the relative bargain price of $647,500\. He slashed .377/.481/.415 in his pro debut between two Rookie levels and then held his own as an 18-year-old in Single-A at the end of 2025\. This season, he's spent the bulk of his time with Hickory, slashing .284/.383/.412/.795 with 8 home runs, 56 RBI, 67 walks, 70 strikeouts, and 51 stolen bases through 115 games. He also appeared in one game for Hub City due to a fire in the visiting clubhouse at LP Frans, going 2-for-5 in that outing. Combined on the season, Castillo is hitting .285/.384/.412/.796 with 8 home runs, 56 RBI, 67 walks, 73 strikeouts, and 51 stolen bases. **Tools:** Castillo's game is built around speed and plate discipline, evidenced by his 51 stolen bases and a walk total that nearly matches his strikeouts on the season. His power has taken a real step forward as well — after hitting just 1 home run in 88 games last season, he's already up to 8 this year. There's enough pop in his bat now to keep pitchers honest even as the speed and on-base skills carry the profile. **Outlook:** Castillo should open next season back at Hub City, with a promotion to Frisco expected in the latter half of the year. The combination of youth, speed, and plate discipline gives him a strong foundation, and continued development in Single-A and Double-A ball will be worth tracking as he climbs the system. ![Brody Bumila](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/09/1000043033.jpg) ## #10 Brody Bumila — LHP **Age:** 18 | **Level:** ACL Rangers | **ETA:** 2031 | **Acquired:** Drafted 2026 (Rd 3) | **Previous Rank:** NR **Background:** Brody Bumila is the pitcher that has probably the best upside of any pitcher on this list, but it comes with a lot of question marks. Bumila, who missed his 2025 junior season while recovering from internal brace surgery, was projected to be a first-round-pick in the 2026 MLB Draft before it was revealed that he had injured his elbow again and would need Tommy John surgery. It made him slide in the draft, but the Rangers selected Bumila in the third round and paid him a triple-slot $2.75 million to convince him to sign. Bumila is a pitcher where the upside is so high that you’re willing to take a calculated risk on, having already selected Gio Rojas and having Caden Scarborough and AJ Russell in your farm system. It’s a pick the Rangers could afford to swing big on. **Mix:** Bumila’s mix is headlined by his 80-grade fastball. He sits 98 on his fastball and has gotten up to 101\. It’s kind of in the realm of that flat approach angle, running shape that the Rangers love. Bumila averages around 16” of vertical break and 12” of arm-side run on his fastball. His vertical approach angle averages around -3.4 degrees at the top of the zone, and it gets just kind of silly when trying to get chase above the zone. Despite standing at 6-foot-9, Bumila is able to throw from a super low release height of 5-foot-3 thanks in large part to the huge extension he gets. It kind of fluctuates, but Bumila averages around 7’ of extension and has gotten up to 7.4’. The upper-80s slider is the work in progress pitch for Bumila in the sense that he can’t really spin the ball. Maybe that’s something that can be worked on in the future, there’s been some very fascinating discussions on how to help pronators just get more of a feel for spinning the ball. Regardless I don’t see it being better than average at the moment. The main secondary for Bumila is his changeup. He averages around 88 on his changeup, and it has some really impressive fade. He averages around 5” of vertical break and 17” of arm-side run with some steep approach angles in the range of -9 degrees. **Outlook:** I’m not too sure what the mix looks like down the line for Bumila, but in the immediate future he figures to miss most of, if not all of the 2027 season. It’s possible the Rangers get him some work in Arizona and potentially Hickory, but I’m more so expecting Bumila to hit the ground running in 2028 (when he’ll still only be 20 years old by the way). It’s certainly a risk committing a top draft pick to a player with an injury history like Bumila, but it’s a risk you can afford to take with the farm stacked with arms the way it is at the moment. The upside Bumila has is just truly immense, and while it will take some time before he’s able to take the field in the Rangers organization, this is a bet I think is going to pay itself off and then some. **Scouting Grades: Fastball: 80 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 50** ![Jacob Johnson](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/09/1000043034.jpg) ## #9 Jacob Johnson — RHP **Age:** 20 | **Level:** Hickory | **ETA:** 2029 | **Acquired:** Drafted 2025 (Rd 11) | **Previous Rank:** NR **Background:** Jacob Johnson was drafted by the Rangers out of community college in the 11th round of the 2025 Draft. The Rangers paid him double the slot bonus in $300,000 to keep him from his Auburn commitment. Johnson is sort of a prototypical Rangers farm RHP. He’s got a great frame at 6’ 3”, smooth, athletic, and repeatable delivery, low slot and release height, and a great fastball/slider combo. The Rangers really love guys with flat approach angle fastballs that are athletic and get good extension down the mound. Johnson topped out with his fastball at 96 in his season of community college baseball after he missed his 2024 senior season recovering from an internal brace procedure, and there’s the belief that he has room for more velocity as he further develops his frame. **Mix:** Talking about Johnson’s fastball, he throws two of them actually. He has a four-seam fastball and a sinker. Both of them sit 95 and top out at 97 for him, but it’s the sinker that really sets Johnson apart. He’ll throw the sinker mainly to righties and the four-seam to lefties. Johnson’s sinker is like a bowling ball, at 7” of vertical break and 17” of arm-side run it really helps him limit hard contact. It’s the pitch the Rangers loved most about Johnson when selecting him and it’s easy to see why. The four-seam is what Johnson primarily throws to lefties. It’s more of the running two-seam shape that you’ll see in both Caden Scarborough and AJ Russell, averaging 15” of vertical break and 14” of arm-side run. Johnson is able to command it well in the zone, and while the shape isn’t objectively elite he’s able to generate whiffs by utilizing the flat approach angle in the upper third of the zone. Johnson’s main secondary at the moment is his slider. It’s more of a sweeper in terms of shape, but what’s impressive is how hard he’s able to throw it. Johnson sits 85 on his sweeper and tops out at 87\. It can be a little inconsistent in its shape, and it would not be in the least bit surprising to see Johnson add a cutter going into next season and work on making his slider hone in on that more sweeper-ish shape. A bridge pitch would also help with the results, as while he has gotten 29% whiff on his slider, it’s also being hit quite hard which would lead one to believe he’s having to throw it for a strike too often and is being punished for it. The last pitch Johnson throws is a changeup, but it’s very much still a work in progress. He throws it hard at 89, but the shape is incredibly inconsistent. He’s thrown one at 8” of vertical break and 3” of arm-side run, and then one with -3” of vertical break and 12” of arm-side run. If he could hone in on the latter shape mentioned, it could easily become a plus plus changeup, though it would be irresponsible of me to suggest that would even be possible. If it was as easy as asking your pitcher “hey, throw that shape every time,” then I fear that might put several coaches out of business. The reality is that similar to AJ Russell, Johnson’s sinker and slider are so good that up until this point he’s had no reason to throw anything else to get hitters out. However now in pro ball, I imagine Johnson’s approach to left-handed hitters will be a big focus of his offseason. **Outlook:** There’s a lot to be excited about with Jacob Johnson. There’s room in the frame to add more weight that could further increase his velocity, he has smooth mechanics, and you can dream a bit on his pitch mix. He’s got all the makings of a starting pitcher that can really make some waves in the farm system next season. He’s right up there with Gio Rojas and Caden Scarborough for me in terms of projectability, and is one of my personal favorites to watch going forward. **Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Sinker: 60 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50** ![Dylan Dreiling](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/09/1000043047.jpg) ## #8 Dylan Dreiling — OF **Age:** 23 | **Bats/Throws:** L/L | **Level:** Frisco | **ETA:** 2027 | **Acquired:** Drafted 2024 (Rd 2) | **Previous Rank:** #13 ▲ **Background**: Dylan Dreiling, the 2024 College World Series Most Outstanding Player, led the Tennessee Volunteers to a national championship by hitting three home runs in the final three games of the tournament. During his NCAA career, Dreiling batted .328 with a 1.141 OPS. He slugged 30 home runs across 121 games while maintaining a disciplined approach at the plate, recording 77 walks against 82 strikeouts. The Texas Rangers would then select Dreiling 65th overall in the 2024 MLB Draft, signing him to a slot bonus of $1,287,000. **Tools**: Dreiling generates hard contact to all fields, showcasing raw power fueled by exceptional bat speed. He has maintained a keen eye against both left-handed and right-handed pitchers, with only a .020-point dip in his on-base percentage when facing southpaws. With his combination of bat speed and plate discipline, Dreiling projects as an everyday corner outfielder. His ability to neutralize left-handed pitching without a significant production gap makes him an even more vital asset to the organization.Dreiling has made significant strides during his first three professional seasons. His progress is currently highlighted by a 21-game hitting streak in a season where he boasts a .315 average, a .915 OPS, 21 home runs, and 78 RBIs. **Outlook**: Double-A could be a short stay for the 23-year-old. It would be no surprise to see him receive a late-season promotion if Triple-A Round Rock finds itself in a playoff chase. Dreiling will be a name to watch when spring training arrives, and 2027 could be the year he debuts in Arlington. While he offers versatility, his tool set is best suited for a corner outfield role at the major-league level. The Rangers are likely counting on him to be a key piece of their future, as a left-handed hitter with a powerful swing and an elite eye remains a high-demand commodity. ![Seong-Jun Kim](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/09/1000043048.jpg) ## #7 Seong-Jun Kim — SS/RHP **Age:** 19 | **Bats/Throws:** R/R | **Level:** Hickory | **ETA:** 2030 | **Acquired:** Signed 2025 (Int'l FA) | **Previous Rank:** #19 ▲ **Background:** Seong-Jun Kim signed to the Rangers in the 2025 international free agent class for $1.2 million. The 18 year old is a two-way player and played a few games in the Dominican Summer League for the Rangers in 2025 before returning to Korea to finish his high school education, and has played stateside in both the ACL and now Low-A Hickory this year in 2026\. Kim was able to be signed due to the international bonus money that the Rangers had set aside for their pursuit of Roki Sasaki, before then pivoting after Sasaki chose the Dodgers. Kim is a really great athlete that certainly has both the skills and arm strength to stick at shortstop defensively, and his mechanics on the mound look incredibly polished for someone only 19 years of age. **Mix:** In high school, Kim threw a fastball, slider, splitter, and curveball, but the Rangers had Kim working primarily his fastball and slider to further refine those pitches to start his career. Now in Hickory, he’s showing all 4 pitches. He sits in the mid 90s on his fastball that touched 97 in his first Low-A start. He has really impressive life on his fastball, averaging 17” of vertical break and 7” of arm-side run. Kim’s slider sits in the mid-to-high 80s, and the flashes are quite impressive if he can hone in some consistency. Kim’s curveball averages high-70s and is a really big breaker with good vertical break separation off his fastball. It gets about -15” of vertical break with -9” of glove-side break. It’s more of an average shape, but his spin capacity is good and he seems confident throwing it to both righties and lefties. The splitter is where it gets really interesting with Kim. He sits mid-80s with the splitter and gets truly impressive depth, averaging -6” of vertical break and sort of hovers around the 0-axis with horizontal break. He absolutely kills spin on the pitch averaging \~1000 RPM, so considering those factors it might be more prudent to call it a forkball. Regardless of what you want to call it, it can be a truly elite pitch in the future for Kim as he matures physically and can possibly increase his velocity on it. **Bat:** In the batters box through two levels Kim is slashing .283/.392/.500 with a .892 OPS (at the time of me writing this). From the right-handed batters box Kim has a very smooth right-handed stroke. His mechanics in the box look very solid to me and doesn't seem to have anything that would be a red flag in my eyes. I do wish to see better z-contact (Zone contact) rates and contact rates in general, but he's still super young and doesn't have a lot of experience stateside, he's going to improve and already has performed very well this season. With the 7 home runs so far this year he’s shown a little more power than I expected. With the bat I’m thinking there is still some power left in the tank with added strength as he develops. I could see him getting around 15 homers or more a year when it’s all said and done. **Outlook:** At just 19 years of age, it’s pretty fair to say that Kim has far surpassed any expectations the Rangers have placed on him. In his first season stateside he’s already made it to Hickory after showing really impressive skills in Arizona. Kim hit 7 home runs in 50 ACL games to go along with a .301 average and .952 OPS, and on the mound, Kim put up a 1.04 ERA in 8.2 innings pitched along with 10 strikeouts. He looks refined in his approach both at the plate and on the mound. His stock is rising quickly and if he hits in affiliate ball like he did in Arizona, then it’s not out of the question for him to hit top 5 if not top 3 Rangers prospect territory. **Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Splitter: 60 | Control: 50** ![Dalton Pence](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/09/1000043050.jpg) ## #6 Dalton Pence — LHP **Age:** 24 | **Level:** Round Rock | **ETA:** 2027 | **Acquired:** Drafted 2024 (Rd 11) | **Previous Rank:** #17 ▲ **Background:** The scouting report on Dalton Pence coming into the 2024 draft was that he was a relief prospect who used his fastball 80% of the time with below average control. Fast forward to 2026, and Dalton Pence is one of the most underrated starting pitching prospects in the Rangers farm. Since entering pro ball, Pence refined his mix and the hard work has paid off, as in the first full season of his professional career, Pence put up a 2.73 ERA across Low-A Hickory and High-A Hub City while carved up hitters at a K% of 31.5%. Pence in 2026 picked up right where he left off, having started in High-A Hub city and receiving promotions throughout the year to AA Frisco, and to now AAA Round Rock where he is at the time of writing. Pence has pitched 95.1 innings so far this season, with a 2.83 ERA across the 3 levels. **Mix:** Despite reducing its usage, Pence’s main pitch remains his fastball that produces elite induced vertical break that averages at about 20”, but has gotten all the way up to 25”. It’s that vertical break that allows it to play really well up in the zone despite velocity that sits at 92 and tops out at 95\. Pence also has a slider that with his high arm slot can look more like a cutter at times. It sits 84 and tops out at 88 and has a whiff% of 34% across all 3 levels this season. Pence also possesses a splitter with similar velocity that shows solid flashes and induces results that are more a cause of the angles Pence creates rather than the objective pitch shape. Lastly, Pence has a curveball averaging 76 that is more average in shape, but does the job for how infrequently he throws it. There’s a lot to love about Pence’s mix and the angles he’s able to generate from his sky-high arm slot. Pence is one of the more notable successes from the Rangers pitching development side, and if he can get back a tad closer to the walk rate he had in Hub City, I think he can have Cody Bradford-style success in the Rangers’ rotation for years to come. **Outlook:** Pence’s emergence in 2025 was overshadowed by the results shown by David Davalillo, Caden Scarborough, and Leandro Lopez, but Dalton Pence deserves to be right there in the conversation with those guys, and has shown as much with how his 2026 has gone. You can even make a strong argument that Pence is having the best 2026 of any Rangers pitching prospect. It had been thought that Pence would end up in the bullpen after he was drafted, but after the results he’s put up, he is a true bonafide starting pitching prospect and is a potential number 4 starter if he continues on this path. **Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Splitter: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Control: 55** ![Gio Rojas](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/09/1000043053.jpg) ## #5 Gio Rojas — LHP **Age:** 19 | **Level:** ACL Rangers | **ETA:** 2029 | **Acquired:** Drafted 2026 (Rd 1) | **Previous Rank:** NR **Background:** Gio Rojas was selected with the Rangers 16th pick in the 2026 MLB Draft out of Stoneman Douglas HS that has produced multiple big leaguers in the past. Rojas was the best left-handed high school pitcher in his draft class, and most would agree he was the best left-handed pitcher in the 2026 draft, college included. He was highly regarded by the Rangers going into the draft, and they were pleasantly shocked when he was still on the board at their pick. He has yet to make his debut for the Rangers since his selection, but the Rangers slow playing of a young arm’s development is hardly newsworthy. **Mix:** Rojas’s mix is headlined by his plus fastball. He averages mid-90s and has topped out at 98 on the fastball. It shows great life in the zone with 17” of vertical break and 15” of arm-side run. His main secondary pitch is his slider that could be a little harder, but has incredible metrics. He averages low-80s on the slider, with -4” of vertical break and -12” of glove-side break. It’s a big sweeping slider that he shows a really good zone feel for. He also has a changeup that hasn’t seen much usage for him, but is also quite impressive when it flashes. It sits low-to-mid-80s and sits at 4” of vertical break with a staggering 19” of arm-side run. Rojas is a great mover down the mound and has tremendous feel for spin on all of his pitches. **Outlook:** I imagine Rojas will be slowly built up next season similar to how the Rangers have treated Caden Scarborough’s and AJ Russell’s developments. He gets great extension on the mound, has a great fastball from a low release height, and shows great feel for the zone with all of his pitches. I don’t like making sweeping declarations before a guy has even hit affiliate ball, but he really does have frontline starter potential and I’m really looking forward to when he makes his debut. **Scouting Grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55** ![Josh Owens](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/09/1000043059.jpg) ## #4 Josh Owens — SS/RHP **Age:** 19 | **Bats/Throws:** L/R | **Level:** Hickory | **ETA:** 2029 | **Acquired:** Drafted 2025 (Rd 3) | **Previous Rank:** #11 ▲ **Background:** Josh Owens was the Rangers 3rd round pick out of Tennessee in the 2025 draft. Owens is a legit two-way player that scouts see impressive traits of both on the mound and in the batters box. Some publications differ on if he’ll eventually gravitate towards a specific side or if he can do both, but it’s very early in his development so those questions will be answered in due time. Owens made his affiliate ball debut in a few games last season, but has spent the majority of his 2026 in the controlled environment in the ACL. Owens has been limited to pretty much 2 innings in each appearance on the mound, but put up a 3.48 ERA over 20.2 innings, collecting 24 strikeouts while walking 7\. Owens appeared in 51 games in the ACL where he had a .814 OPS, hitting 9 home runs with some impressive pop. It’s still a work in progress on both sides of the ball for Owens, but it doesn’t take long watching him to see what all the excitement is about. **Mix:** Talking about Josh Owens, the pitcher specifically, he throws 3 pitches although he’s been almost exclusively fastball/slider as a professional. He throws a heavy sinking fastball that averaged 94 in 2025, but in 2026 has been averaging closer to 96\. His fastball has big arm-side run thanks to his super low release around 4.7’. He throws it a ton, and has been consistent in throwing it for strikes. It averages about 6” of vertical break and 16” of arm-side run with a flat approach angle around -4.2 degrees. He also throws a mid-to-high 80s slider that has more of a short sweeper shape. Owens pitched 4 scoreless innings over 2 starts to end the 2025 season in Hickory, and shows strong athleticism on the mound though some tend to believe his mechanics are more reliever-like. It will be interesting to see how the Rangers approach his development for next season, and if they stick to these short appearances or if they give Owens the opportunity to be stretched out as a starter. **Outlook:** The general consensus on Josh Owens seems to be split. Some people think he has middle of the rotation potential, some think his mix and delivery have him destined for the bullpen, and some people think he’ll end up dropping pitching all together in favor of the bat. There’s a lot to be excited about with Josh Owens the pitcher, but there’s also a lot that is pretty clear he needs to work on. However, at only 19 years of age all the questions surrounding him will work themselves out as he continues to grow and play. **Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 50** ![AJ Russell](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/09/1000043075.jpg) ## #3 AJ Russell — RHP **Age:** 22 | **Level:** Hub City | **ETA:** 2028 | **Acquired:** Drafted 2025 (Rd 2) | **Previous Rank:** #7 ▲ **Background:** AJ Russell had a stellar 2023 season at Tennessee before needing to miss the entirety of 2024 due to an elbow injury. Russell returned in 2025 where he pitched 25.1 innings to the tune of a 3.55 ERA. Despite not having the same results as his 2023 season, Russell’s 32.4% K% intrigued the Rangers enough to select him in the 2nd round of this year’s draft, paying him an over-slot $2.6 million. Russell pitched sparingly in the Arizona Complex League in 2025, but made his affiliate ball debut in 2026 for the Rangers. Russell has pitched 52.1 innings on the season, as the Rangers have been cautious in their build up of Russell after his recovery. Russell carved up Low-A hitters largely relying on his fastball. He was throwing it almost 80% of the time, and he really wasn’t given any reason to throw anything else with how well it worked for him. Now in High-A, Russell has run into some troubles when it comes to the walks. After posting a 40.2% K% and 10.3% BB% in Hickory, Russell is still striking out 33.6% of hitters but is walking 15.5% of hitters faced. It’s due to multiple factors, but the simplest explanation is that the hitters are more advanced. You’re not going to get the chase you got in Low-A, and batters in High-A will likely be able to foul off pitches that Low-A batters can’t. It’s been good for Russell to have to work through this roadblock, and he’s been much better at limiting free passes in his last couple starts at the time of writing. **Mix:** Russell’s mix is headlined by that unicorn fastball of his. It’s a true 80-grade potential offering that is one of the best fastballs in the Rangers system from a pure metrics perspective. Russell has averaged 93 on his fastball this season with 16” of vertical break and 11” arm-side run from a 5’ release height. His approach angles are absurd as well, averaging -3.6 degrees which gets to -3.25 degrees to the upper third of the zone where he gets his most swing and miss. He has no problem getting whiffs above the zone, but he also has a very impressive 27% z-whiff% on his fastball thanks in large part to that flat approach angle. Russell also throws a mid-80s slider with a ton of glove-side sweep. It’s an interesting shape with more lift than you’d expect on a slider at about 8” of vertical break. Regardless, it’s his best secondary offering that he throws for strikes often and gets good swing and miss on. The only issues he’s run into with it this season is that he doesn’t really have a go-to secondary for lefties, so he’s sometimes forced to throw it in the zone to lefties where damage can be done. He finishes his mix with a changeup that he throws in the mid-to-high 80s, and a curveball he flashed in Arizona after the draft. His curveball is his only real downward breaker that again, similar to his slider, has more lift than you’d expect, but the results on a small sample size are very promising. He’s slightly increased his curveball usage in his last couple High-A starts, and I fully expect that to continue to be the case. **Outlook:** Russell has the stuff to be a dominant frontline starter in the major leagues, but it all depends on his health and his ability to refine his mix. He only threw 70 innings across his 3 years of college, so his health and durability is a big question mark. He’s been steadily increasing his pitch count all year, to the point where I believe the Rangers have been using this year as more of an introduction to pro ball, and are building him up to be able to attack the offseason and come out firing in 2027\. If he ends up not sticking as a starter, then his fastball is definitely more than good enough to play in the back end of the bullpen. **Scouting Grades: Fastball: 70 | Slider: 60 | Changeup: 45 | Curveball: 50 | Control: 50** ![Caden Scarborough](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/09/1000043081.jpg) ## #2 Caden Scarborough — RHP **Age:** 21 | **Level:** Hub City | **ETA:** 2027 | **Acquired:** Drafted 2023 (Rd 6) | **Previous Rank:** #2 **Background:** Scarborough was a pitcher who flew under the radar for most of his high school career, but the Rangers loved his projectable frame and were able to lure him away from his Dallas Baptist commitment. The Rangers drafted Scarborough in the 6th round of the 2023 draft, signing him for an over-slot $515,000\. Scarborough broke onto the scene in 2025, posting a 2.45 ERA in 88 innings spread across Hickory and Hub City alongside a K% of 33.2%, a BB% of 6.1%, and holding opponents to a .178 batting average. His start to 2026 was delayed by a health scare, but he reminded everyone of the tantalizing potential he possesses once he did get back on the mound. He’s had a couple outings that have inflated his ERA simply due to only 44.1 innings in Hub City at the time of writing, but he’s largely been in line with what he showed last year as well. He’s striking out slightly fewer batters at 27.1% and walking slightly more at 7.9%, but opponents are still hitting just .186 off Scarborough. The reduction in strikeout rate is largely due to Scarborough building up his velocity to start his season. His first few starts he was sitting around 91, but he’s since raised that to about 94 in his last start and has touched 96\. **Mix:** Scarborough struggled mightily with command during his 2024 debut season, as he put up a 17% walk rate in his 10.1 innings; a season shortened by a strained lat issue. Coming into 2025 however, Scarborough added 30 pounds to his 6-foot-5 frame, and it came with increased velocity on his fastball. He went from sitting around 89-91 to regularly hitting 92-95 topping out at 97, and there's still more velocity to be had as he continues to fill out his frame. Scarborough's fastball shines due to his elite extension of 7 feet, as well as the angles he's able to generate from his low release height of 5.1’. The fastball has more of a running two-seam shape, averaging 14” of vertical break and 15” arm-side run. His sweeper averages low 80s with up to 22” of glove-side sweep on the year. He has a splitter that can be inconsistent in its shape, but there are moments where it flashes. At the moment it's more of a soft contact pitch vs chasing whiffs, but because of the arm speed Scarborough is able to generate, it still has good potential. He added a cutter/gyro slider over this past offseason, and the early returns have been impressive. It’s a great bridge in velocity between his fastball and sweeper, averaging 87\. He’s thrown it at 22% usage on the season, and he fills up the zone with it at a 73% strike%. **Outlook:** Caden Scarborough came into 2026 with high expectations, and it may not have been smooth sailing but Scarborough has done well to deal with the adversity he’s faced this year. There’s a ton to love about the potential of what Scarborough can bring to the table, and it’s part of the reason why he shot up prospect rankings throughout the latter half of the 2025 season. There’s likely still room to add a sinker in his mix, and I’d be surprised if he doesn’t tinker with his splitter at some point. If Scarborough continues this trajectory, there’s no reason to think he can’t be in line for a spot at the top of the rotation in the next few years. **Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Sweeper: 60 | Cutter: 55 | Splitter: 45 | Control: 55** ![Sebastian Walcott](https://theprospecttimes.com/content/images/2026/09/1000043083.jpg) ## #1 Sebastian Walcott — SS **Age:** 20 | **Bats/Throws:** R/R | **Level:** Frisco | **ETA:** 2027 | **Acquired:** Signed 2023 (Int'l FA) | **Previous Rank:** #1 **Background:** Sebastian Walcott remains the clear top prospect in the system, and it wasn't surprising that he was the only player to receive a unanimous first-place vote in our rankings. Now 20 years old, Walcott possesses elite physical tools, led by a power-speed profile that produced career highs across the board in 2025\. In 124 games for Frisco last season, he slashed .255/.355/.386/.741 with 13 home runs, 19 doubles, 59 RBI, and 32 stolen bases. Beyond the raw numbers, Walcott showed growth in his plate discipline, reducing his strikeout rate. This season, he spent time on the 7-day injured list with a concussion but hasn't missed a beat since returning. In two games with the ACL Rangers on a rehab assignment, he hit .500/.571/1.167/1.738 with a home run. Back with Double-A Frisco, he's continued to mash, hitting .309/.393/.585/.978 with 7 home runs, 17 RBI, 16 walks, and 32 strikeouts in 30 games, including a recent stretch of four consecutive games with a home run. **Tools:** Walcott's carrying tools remain his monster power and speed, and the hit tool continues to look good as he draws walks and controls the strike zone. He's gained 20 pounds of muscle, and it shows in his physical presence at the plate. Defensively, he is supposed to start taking the field again; while he has a 70-grade arm and great range, he committed 24 errors in 88 games at the shortstop position last year. His 6-foot-4 frame and arm strength lead some to believe he may eventually move to third base, but his athleticism gives him every chance to stick at short. He's also looked excellent in his time at DH since returning from a surgery. **Outlook:** As a young, athletic talent absolutely mashing at Double-A with monster power, a cannon arm, and an improving hit tool, Walcott has all the makings of a franchise cornerstone. Whether he ultimately sticks at shortstop or slides to third base, his bat and physical tools give him a clear path to stardom at the next level. --- That wraps our 2026 Texas Rangers Top 30 Prospects list. This ranking reflects the collective input of our contributors, tallied through our points system to give the most balanced view possible of where the system stands today. From Sebastian Walcott's continued ascension at the top to the depth of arms, bats, and international talent filling out the rest of the list, this farm system remains one of the more talked-about in baseball, and for good reason. Four of us contributed the write-ups themselves. Matthew Harris wrote all pitching write-ups, including the pitching sides of our two-way prospects. Kasey Jarvis wrote the write-ups for Dylan Dreiling and Connor Comeau. Mason Hovind wrote the write-up for Jack Wheeler and the hitting side of Seong-Jun Kim's profile. All other position player write-ups were written by me. As always, prospect rankings are a snapshot in time. Performance, health, and opportunity will shift throughout the rest of the season and into next year, and we'll be here tracking every step of it. Thanks for reading, and as always, thank you for supporting The Prospect Times.